Plate-clamping device for rotary cylinder printing-presses.



- H.A P. BECHMAN.

PLATE CLMPING DLYTGE FOR ROTARY CYLINDER PRINTING PRESSES. 4APPlJlng'lNFILED JUNE 7, 1909.

.1,052,205 w wantedl Feb. 4,1913.

" cylinders erv 'HENRY PRESS COMANY, F BATTLE CREEK,

.'ELATE-CLAIIIPING DEVICE FOR F. BECKMAN, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN,ASSIGNOR 'ro DUPLEX-Plummer IdI(Jflil'.tit-.ANP` A CORPORATION 0FMICHIGAN.

RQTARY CYLINDER PRINTING-PRESSES.

iftl

Original application led Harsh 15,

Speocetion of Letters Yatent.

Patentedleb. 4, 1913.

1909,'Se1ial No, 483,600'. Divided and this application led June 7,

1909. Serial No. 500,596.

To all fathom i may conce/m Be it known' that l, HENRY F. BECKMAN.; ot'Battle Creek, in the county 'of Calhoun :ind State of'lviichigdn,haveinvented cer tain new and usetulimprovements in late- Cl ainpin gDevices tor Rotary Cylinder Printing-Presses g and l hereby declare thatthe following a full, clear, and exact description ther-coi", referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings? which torni part of thisspecitication.

"this invention relates to rotary-cylinder web-printing presses whereinthe printing surfaces are formed on stereotype plates `iL-a; sie`11cdupon the peripheries ot the plate and co-acting` with adjacent imfioncylinders to print a web.

The primary object ot the present invention is to provide means forquickly and easily fastening tubular plates onthe cylinders of thepreesv described .inv my 'Patent Number SGTfZBG, dated @ctober 'L 1907;and Number 979,919 dated December 27, 1910 of which latter the presentcase is s division. Vln said press the plate cylinders are of smalldiameter, and are designed tor use with vtuhulir stereotype platesadapted to he slipped end'wise on and o the plate cylinders.

T he present invention consists in 'the novel means for securingstereotype plates on the cylinders :is hereinafter described andclaimed; and in the accompanying drawings l have shown the invention asapplied to a plate cylinder adapted to Gerry two tubular single pagevplates arranged end to end thereon; hut the novel clamps can he iMilledto cylinderscarrying three or more tubular page-plates; and to ordinarypluie cylinders.

l will new describe the invention in detail, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing... and in the claims summarize the parts undcombinations of parts for which protection 1s desired.

ln said drawings-Figure I1 is au en` 'lai-ged sectional elevation of aplate cylinder oi' a rotary press' equipped with my plate-lasteningsclamping a plate. Fig.

a the plate-'tastenings in disengaged ition. 3 is nn enlarged top planview et" the end plete securing devices. Fig. 'i a section on line el--nFig. 3, showend clamp in position te enter the miler view ot' such platecylinder ilanges are adapted to slots-nd clampv a plate. Fig. 5 is asimilar section on k lineI #lr-5, Fig. 3, showing the clamp in positionto permit the removal of a plate. Fig'. v6 .is an enlarged detailsection v on line 6 6, Fig. l. f

Ac strikin feature of the press shown ,in my cltoresai patent diminutivesize of the plate cylinders; in practice the circumference of each platecylinder when the.l late is on is merely equal to the length o oneordinary newspaper page-plus the desired margins between successiveimpressions,-whereas inA ordinary presses the circumference of thecylinders 1s at least twice as great. TWith such small cylinders l usetubular stereotype plates each of which practically surrounds the'circumference of the cylinder. Each plate is .bored to fit closely andneatly around the periphery of the cylinder but has a longitudinal slotto engage the edges of a rib le on the cylinder, which rib keeps theplates in proper alinement on the cylinderrfand also forms an abutmentby which the plates are caused to turn therewith.

Such plates can be pla-ced on or removed rom'the cylinders only byslipping them endwise on or oit the cylinders. The only fasteningdevices required therefore are means for preventing lateral movement otthe plates on ther cylinders during the .operation of thepress vwhichmeans forms the subject ot the present case.

ln order to facilitate securing the plates on the plate cylinders orremoving therefrom I have provided the plate cylinders with nevel platesecuring devices which disappear when disengaged from the plates, and tocome into locking position when the plates are placed on the cylinder'.I will now describe these devices.

The plate cylinders are shownA as lout two pages wide, so that bothplates can be conveniently .slipped on or 0H the saine end oftliecylinder. Eacli plate vided with one or more slots 1d in which isplaced an ordinary 'plate clamp or slide block 2 which is provided withlateral 2a engaging grooves in the sides of the slot la, us usual., Theinner end 1b of this slot is deepened and' inclined and the side`grooves are similarly inclined inwardly toward the axis of the cylinderso thatwhen the clamp 2 is moved longitudinally of the slot andapplication is the Jfor these plates y them and toward the inner end ofthe slot it gradually disappears below the surface oi the cylinder (seeFig. 2) but when the clamp 2 is moved toward the outer end of the slot1e it will rise in the slot and project above the surface of thecylinder (see Figs. l and 6.) To the clamp block 2 is attached a rod 2bwhich extends in a channel l leading from the slot ld toward the end ofthe cylinder, and said rod 2h is provided on its extremity with a linger2Z which projects suticiently above the surface of the cylinder toengage the edge of a plate P slid on the cylinder.l

Before the first plate P is placed'on the cylinder the clamp 2 is movedback into the lower portion of the slot'ld and disappears below thesurface of the cylinder as described (see Fig. 2) then the plate isslipped onto the cylinder, and as it is slid inwardly thereon itsforward' edge engages the finger 2c and moves rod 2P thereby causingclamp 2 to rise beside and against the inner edge of the plate (seeFig.`1). Then when the second plate P is slid on the cylinder it catchesthe said clamp 2 and causes it to move the first plate P on until itabuts against a stop 1W on the cylinder which arrests the plates incorrect printing position. The second plate P is then clamped againstlineal movement on the cylinder, by means of a slide block or clamp 3(Figs. 1-5) which is strung on a threaded bolt 4 by which the clamp canbe vmoved longitudinally of the slot. Said bolt 4 extends through thehead lr of the cylinder and into a slotlk in the cylinder, said slotbeing dove-tailed or undercut at 1m for engagement with danges 3L on thesides ofthe clamp 3; Bolt 4 has a collar 4 on it bearing against theinner side of head l" to prevent longitudinal dis` placement oi thebolt. At the outer end of the slot lk is an enlarged recess 1, and whenclamp 3' is backed out into this recess (by reversely rotating bolt 4)it can be turned over into the position indicated-in Figs. 2 and 5, sothat it disappears below the surface of the cylinder; in which positionthe plzites P can be easily slid on or 0H the cylinter.

lVhen the clamp 3 is entered in slot lk it cannot turn on bolt '4, andconsequently can f be moved backward or forward in the slot,

, surface of the cylinder,

by properly rotating bolt 4. Vhile in en gagement with the slot theclamp projects above the surface of the cylinder into plate engagingposition (see Figs. l and 4). If the clamp 3 be backed out of slot lkinto recess 1, it will turn with the bolt and may then be turned overinto the position indi. cated in Fig. 5, and disappear below the so thatplates P can be readily slipped on or oit' the cylinder. In order tofacilitate turning clamp 3 into either operative )osition ,(Fig. 4), o1`inoperative position iFig. 5), it is formed with clamp 3 is backed outof slot 1k into recess 1, and the clamp starts'to rotate with bolt 4,lug 3d will strike in 5 and arrest the rotation of clamp 3, Wien theclamp is in the position indicated in Fig. 5, in which the clamp hasdisappeared beneath the surface of the cylinder. Then when it is desiredtoA re'e'nter clamp 3 into slot 1 k bolt 4 is turned in the oppositedirectiomand clamp 3 turns therewith until lug 3E rests the rotation ofclamp 3 when it is in exact posit-ion tov renter slot 1k. In this Waythe clamp 3 is readilyshifted into engaging or disengaging position, andthe operator is not annoyed or delayed in ositioning the clamp. Afterboth plates ave been slid on the cylinder as described, the bolt 4 isturned so as to first bring clamp 3 into the position indicated in Fig.4 so that its iianges 3 can enter the grooves 1m in the sides of slot1k, and so that it projects above the surface of the cylinder, 1nposition to engage aplate; then lbolt'4 is rotated so as.

to move clamp 3 inward against the edge of the second plate P and causethe latter to engage clamp 2 and cause it to hold the first plate P inposition, (see Fig. l). Thus it is practicallyfyonly necessary insecuring the plates on the cylinder to operate bolt 4, asthe'intermediate clamp 2 will be automati c'ally positioned by the actof slipping the iirst .plate on or off the cylinder.

I have illustrated but one set of platefastening devices on thecylinder, but ob viously more sets could be used on each cylinderaccording to the size and number of plates to be secured thereon.

Having described my invention what l claim vas new' and desire to secureby Letters Patent thereon is;

1. In combination, a plate cylinder havingr a slot, and a plate clampslidably mounte in said slot and ada ted to engage tiie edge of a plate,means or moving said clamp longitudinally of theslot, said clamp beingadapted to disappear beneath the surface of the cylinder when moved toone end of the slot, and to project above the surface of the cylinderwhen moved tothe other end of the slot.

2. In combination, a plate cylinder having a slot, and a platecvlampadapted to engage the edge of ,a plate slidably mounted in said slot,said slot being deepened at one e'nd so that when the clamp is retractedit will disappear beneath the surface of the cylinder, substantially asdescribed.

3. In combination, a plate cylinder havingr a slot, a plate clamp.adapted to engage strikes pin 5, and ari j cured in said slot andadapted to disappear beneath the. surface of the cylinder when 'as theplate is slid forward on the cylinder.

the edge of a plate sldably mounted in said' slot, and means forshifting the clamp in the slot, said slot being enlarged at one end-sothat when the clamp is moved to that end of the slot it will disappear.

- 4. In combina-tion, a plate cylinder having a slot a plate clampslidably mounted in said slot, said slot being deepened at one end sothat when the cla'mp is retracted it will disappear, vand meansconnected with said clamp and adapted to be engaged by a plate to movethe clamp into operative position.

5. A plate cylinder having a longitudinal slot, a yplate clamp movablysecured in said slot and adapted to disappear beneath the' surface ofthe cylinder when moved to one end ofthe slot, and a rod connected withsaid clamp and adapted to be engaged by the edge of a plate and m'ovethe clamp into operative positie-nas the plate is`positioned on thecylinder.

6. A plate cylinder adapteld to carry tubular plates having alongitudinal slot deepened at one end, a plate clamp movably semoved tothe deeper end of the slot, a rod connected with said clamp and having afinger on its free end adapted to be engaged bythe edge of a plate andbe thereby caused to inove the clamp into operative position 7. Incombination, a plate cylinder having a slot, av bolt extendinglongitudinally through said slot, a longitudinally movable plate clampon said bolt adapted to roject above' the surface of the cylinder and)mve toward the plate when in. plate engaging position, and to turnwiththe bolt and disafter it has been moved away from the plate.

8. In combination, a plate cylinder having a slot, an enlarged recess.at the end of said slot, a bolt extending longitudinally through saidreccss and slot, a movable clamp on said 'bolt adapted whenfentered inthe slot to proplate-engaging position, and to turn on the e ]ect above,the surface of the cylinderin bolt and disappear ben th the 'surface oflthe cylinder when it is and into the recess.

moi d out of the slot soI 9. -In combination, a plate cylinder having la slot, a bolt extending longitudinally through said slot, a plate clampon said bolt' adapted to project above the surface of the cylinder whenengaged vwith the slot, and to turn on the bolt and disappear beneathvthe surface of the cylinder when disengaged from the slot, yand meansfor arresting the rotation of the clamp when it has been1 y turned todisappearing position, or returned toposition for rentry into the slot.

10. In combination, a plate cylinder having a slot, a recess at the endof the slot, a bolt extending longitudinally through said v slot andrecess, a plate clamp on said bolt adapted .when in the. slot to projectabove the surface of the cylinder in plate-engaging position, and toturn on the bolt and disap pear .beneath the surface of the Icylinderwhen it is moved out into the recess, and means to arrest the rotationof said clamp when in the recess so as to stop the clamp in disap earingposition, or in position to renter t 1e slot. l1. In combination, aplate cylinder havino' a clamp-receiving slot, afrecess at the en ofsaid slot, va rot-atablebolt lying'pin said recess and slot., and a pinprojecting into said recess; with a plate clamp strung on said "bolt andadapted to project above the surface of the cylinder in plate engagingposition when in the slot; andato' turn with the bolt and disappearbelow the surface of the cylinder when moved into the recess, said clamphaving lugs adapted to engage said pin, to prevent rotation of the clampon the bolt after the clamp is in disappearing posi: tion, or has beenturned back to slot-engaging position, substantially as s et forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signaturein presence of tWo witnesses. y

. HENRY F. BEC'HMAN.

Witnesses:A

F.l W.' DUNNING, IRVI'NG K. STORY.

